A review of the glass‐making industry of Murano (Venice, Italy) under an environmental perspective

The glassworks of Murano have been, and still are, one of the causes of environmental pollution of the Venetian Lagoon, primarily via atmospheric emissions but also as a result of effluent discharges and disposal of solid waste. A preliminary environmental audit of Murano’s glassworks carried out in 1999 indicated that the local entrepreneurs see the adoption of environmental management systems and pollution‐prevention/reduction measures as a major burden. The main reasons are the costs that must be borne, the complexities of Italian legislation and regulation, and the relatively small size of the majority of the units operating on this island. Pollution‐control and waste‐minimisation strategies are slowly being implemented as a result of regulatory pressures.